Re: brian aka "cutie" westbrook

[GeorgiaEagle]

Thanks for posting that article Destiny. ;D Interesting that Brian went to an all-boys Catholic high school like Donovan.

There are some fine men that come out of these schools!

[GeorgiaEagle]

destiny5 said:

Oh my - there are those cute little calves again.

Like a former coach of his said, he is an Adonis.


P.S. I wonder what he's doing in this pic. Brad Childress (I think that's him) and Donovan appear to be watching him closely, yet he is without the ball. Almost like they're watching him merely run wind sprints or something, lol.

[destiny5]

i posted the big picture just for you. i know that you love calves and his are amazing

i never heard that a former coach said the brian is an adonis. girl... i gotta find that article.

what is brian doing in that pic? good question.... maybe he is running route or donovan was throwing a ball his direction and he couldnt catch it.

[GeorgiaEagle]

I found the article - enjoy!


Birds' Westbrook still has a big admirer at Villanova

By Ashley McGeachy Fox

Inquirer Staff Writer


Andy Talley calls when he knows Brian Westbrook is unavailable. During Eagles games. Or immediately after. He just wants to leave a message.

For five years, Talley was Westbrook's coach at Villanova. He was part mentor, part father, part adviser, part taskmaster. The last thing Talley wants to be now is part bother, or cramper of Westbrook's space and style.

But he wants Westbrook to know he is watching. And waiting. And expecting.

Great things, Talley is sure, are coming.

"He's an explosion waiting to happen," Talley said yesterday of Westbrook, whom he also called "an Adonis," ;D a "rare bird" and, if you can believe it, "the next Marshall Faulk."

To be fair, and the coach certainly would agree, Talley is biased. But he also is observant, and while Eagles coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Brad Childress stick by their three-running back attack, Talley sees one leader emerging.

Brian Westbrook.

"I really believe that you are seeing the metamorphosis of a great one coming up," Talley said. "No one's seen him more than me. I had him for five years. He's full speed on the fourth step, fifth step. He can run away from pro guys. Just because we're I-AA guys, people laugh. The football on this level has improved, and he dominated it. And he would've dominated I-A."

As a sophomore in 1998, he became the first player in college football at any level to record 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

Westbrook, who sat out the 1999 season after reconstructive knee surgery, holds the all-time NCAA record for all-purpose yards with 9,885.

Although the Eagles don't publicize their depth chart at running back, Westbrook clearly was their third choice heading into training camp. But when Duce Staley held out for a contract extension, Westbrook got more repetitions in practice, and displayed his speed, smarts and moves for the first two weeks.

After the New Orleans exhibition game, Westbrook got hurt, and only now has he rounded into form, Childress said earlier this week.

But of the three backs, the 24-year-old Westbrook has provided the biggest spark. In the last two games, he has broken plays late in the game for important touchdowns. He has produced. And he has impressed.

"He looked pretty good," Reid said after the Eagles' 27-25 win Sunday over the Washington Redskins. Although it didn't sound like it, that comment was high praise from the head coach, who is almost as forthcoming with the media about his feelings as Westbrook has been so far.

"I think the coaches just gave me the opportunity," the quiet Westbrook said. "They gave me the opportunity last week to make a play, and when [Reid] does, I try my best to make a play. You don't really know when it's going to happen, but you always have to be prepared."

Against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 28, Westbrook sprinted 62 yards for a touchdown that gave the Eagles a 23-13 victory. Sunday at home against the Redskins, he got great downfield blocks by Todd Pinkston and Jon Ritchie, among others, and ran 19 yards for a touchdown that put the Eagles ahead, 27-16, with 3 minutes, 10 seconds to play.

After four games, Westbrook leads the Eagles with 194 rushing yards on 30 carries, with the two touchdowns. Quarterback Donovan McNabb is second with 174 yards, while Staley is third with 71 yards and Correll Buckhalter is fifth (behind receiver James Thrash) with 28 yards.

Westbrook also has handled the Eagles' return duties on special teams, averaging 22.5 yards per kickoff return and 8.9 per punt return.

Although he appears to still be finding his groove, Westbrook was a dangerous returner in college. In 46 career games, he gained 2,433 yards and scored five touchdowns on kickoff returns.

"I really think he's going to make people forget about Brian Mitchell," Talley said.

For now, Westbrook will worry about continuing to try to earn playing time at running back. Early against the Redskins, Buckhalter bruised his knee, so Westbrook (11 carries, 64 yards) and Staley (10 carries, 36 yards) carried the load.

That likely will continue.

"I just know this, and it came to roost on Sunday: We really need them all before it's over," Childress said. "Buck hurt himself there, and all of a sudden is out of the game after our second or third series. Then it came down to Westbrook and Duce. That position takes a beating, and it really is nice before it's over to have able bodies on hand."

Yesterday, with all bodies at home for the Eagles' day off, Westbrook left Talley a message. Finally, the former Villanova MBA student told Talley, he bought a house. No more rent to pay.

"He's very keen," Talley said. "He's somewhat quiet, but those are the kind of guys that have a lot going on upstairs. He's dissecting what you tell him three different ways... . Nobody thinks higher of him than me."

[GeorgiaEagle]

Does this coach have a serious man-crush on Brian or what? But I don't blame him. He is absolutely right!

[GeorgiaEagle]

Oh wow - I just watched Brian and Freddie's press conference on philadelphiaeagles.com....if you get a chance Destiny this is something you definitely want to check out. Brian is soooooo adorable - just as cute as a button! And Freddie's just hilarious - looking like Professor Crockadile Dundee.

www.philadelphiaeagles.com/multimedia/

I think I'm in love again - sorry Donovan, lol.


{and if you really have time to scope cuties...you might want check out Todd Pinkston's press conference too. I happen to think he's adorable - especially when he cracks a smile. }

[destiny5]

wow... great article. thank you for that!

girl... i am in love with brian westbrook. good lord he looks so adorable in that video. i love the part when he turns to freddie and says: " i got this one". freddie really was answering all the questions. back to brian... he is so cute. i try to find words for him but there are no words to describe what a cutie he is. i love the way he talks. i could listen to him all day.

i didnt know that freddie is that funny
the only thing i didnt like was his hat. sorry freddie... but that wasnt sexy. brians suit was perfect

[GeorgiaEagle]

LOL, so you weren't feeling Freddie's hat, I take it. I liked it - think Freddie's actually sexy in a weird, roundabout way, lol. I love people who are stylishly "funky" and unique.

Yea Brian's suit was sharp - he looked amazing in it.

I think the media in that room may have been subtly directing many of the questions toward Freddie because they just love entertaining "quote machines" like him. They were fishing for more witty, egotistical quotes from Freddie that they can fill their newspapers with. Brian seems like a pretty shy guy - at least that's his public persona. In fact, Brian appeared pretty nervous at that press conference - did you notice that? I don't know if it was because he was still filled with adrenaline from the game, or if he is uncomfortable in front of a bunch of journalists, or what.

[GeorgiaEagle]

Hey another Brian article.


Hidden gem is now a polished star


By ERNIE PALLADINO
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: January 20, 2005)


PHILADELPHIA — Andy Reid had an idea of what he was getting before the 2002 draft when a good-looking, small-school running back came in for a tryout.

"He's a local kid," Reid said of that prospect, one Brian Westbrook of nearby Villanova. "We saw him play all through college.

"We had an opportunity to bring him down here before the draft. Put him through a workout and you are able to see firsthand the things that we do in our offense and ask him to do them. He did that very well and thought he would be a good fit."

A good enough fit, apparently, for the Eagles to draft one of the most decorated of Division I-AA players in the third round that year. Since then, Westbrook has made quite the name for himself, first as a kick returner as he waited behind Duce Staley, and then as a do-it-all running back.

It is that second aspect the Atlanta Falcons will see Sunday in the NFC championship game, the same all-around quality that helped do in the Vikings last week.

The same skills, by the way, that were missing from last year's conference title game. Westbrook wasn't there. A torn triceps tendon kept him on the sideline, and the Eagles felt his pain.

"I could have helped the offense a little bit last year," Westbrook said. "We had opportunities to win the game. This year, we'll go out as an offense and do the things necessary to win the game."

Westbrook's injury left Staley and Correll Buckhalter to shoulder the entire rushing load against Carolina. Though they combined for 127 ground yards, neither provided the kind of explosiveness and pass-catching ability the Division I-AA record-holder for all-purpose yardage does.

Reid could have used him, despite the solid running attack. Westbrook would have helped greatly in the passing game, in which Donovan McNabb threw exactly one completion to his top receiver, James Thrash, and none to Todd Pinkston or tight end Chad Lewis.

"I'd be wrong to say I didn't wish I had him before," Reid said. "He is a big part of the football team and has been all year. He was last year."

If Terrell Owens opened everything up deep for the Eagles this year, Westbrook pumped oxygen into the underneath passing game. He was basically the Eagles' Tiki Barber, only with a successful won-loss record.

Lined up in the backfield, he rushed for 812 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 73 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns, many from the wide-receiver position.

He even ran an end-around in last week's conference semifinal against Minnesota for 15 of his 114 yards from scrimmage. His fourth-place conference ranking behind Barber, Seattle's Shaun Alexander, and Washington's Clinton Portis, with 1,515 yards in that category, underlines his versatility.

It also gives Atlanta a good idea of the problems he creates. Minnesota defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell couldn't solve him. Now it's Ed Donatell's turn.

Westbrook's only advice for Donatell boiled down to keeping an aspirin handy.

"I'd just have a headache," the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Westbrook said. "I don't know what I'd do. I'd just hope to contain me and cross your fingers."

With Owens still nursing a bad ankle, the much-humbler Westbrook has risen to prime-target status.

And not because of his rushing ability.

"They make a concerted effort getting the ball to their backs, both on screens and breaking Westbrook out wide in a receiver position," Falcons coach Jim Mora Jr. said. "You look at the statistics, and of the 32 teams, they're 31st in rushes attempted. That usually means a team is behind a lot, but they're not. It's just the way they run their offense."

And one of the focal points of that offense is a small-school kid who has made good in a league of large-school players. In this game, he has the smallest background among the backfield stars that include quarterbacks Michael Vick (Virginia Tech) and McNabb (Syracuse), and running backs Warrick Dunn (Florida State) and T.J. Duckett (Michigan State).

But Westbrook doesn't consider himself a unique success story.

"There's a lot of quality players in small schools across the country," Westbrook said. "Coaches are looking more and more at I-AA programs."

Reid was one of them. And Westbrook has rewarded him for his curiosity.

www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/012005/c03w20nfcfeatweb.html

[GeorgiaEagle]

It says at the beginning of that article that Andy Reid brought Brian to the Eagles facility to work him out before the draft. I thought that was against league rules? I thought I read that a team's representatives can go to the school of the potential draftee to put him through a workout, but that a team couldn't bring that potential draft pick to the team facility. Did Andy Reid do something illegal here?

[destiny5]

girl... i dont feel his head but you are right there is something about freddie. the word "unique" really describes him best. GE dont forget about the party pics... freddie is a playa

i didnt notice brian being nervous during the press conference. although he was always looking to his left. i wonder what he was looking at maybe a girl
i remember reading an interview where brian said that he loves to stay home, play with his dog and just relax. no parties for him.

[destiny5]

did you see his press conference yesterday? he was looking fine
what a perfect man! didnt you mention kidnapping him a few weeks ago? i think we should do it

[destiny5]

1-on-1: RB/KR Brian Westbrook

September 23, 2003

Brian Westbrook, the second-year player from Villanova, has been thrust into a major role with the Eagles and he's ready for the challenge. Here, we go One-On-One with Westbrook about his duties as a kick return man and a running back.

Q. What's harder, catching a kickoff or a punt?

BW: "They're both similar in that it takes some time to get your technique down, but the big difference is that you've got 10 guys blocking for you on a kickoff and on a punt you have a defensive guy a step or two away looking to tear your head off.

"The reaction time is much faster on a punt return. I think I'm getting better. I've made some mistakes, but every day I feel like I get better."

Q. What did it mean to you that the Eagles were willing to allow Brian Mitchell to leave in free agency and promote you to the kick return job?

BW: "'B Mitch' is a great player, no doubt about it. I learned a lot from him last year. But you draft players to play. It's my time. I've been asked a lot about replacing him and I don't look at it that way. It's my opportunity to play and to make a name for myself. I intend to make the most of it."

Q. Would you like to run the ball more on offense?

BW: "I'd like to touch the ball as much as I can. I think everyone would say that. I love the game of football and I love contributing to the team. That's what it's all about. I'm thankful that Andy Reid has given me so many chances and I'm hopeful of having more opportunities."

Q. What do you think has been wrong with the offense and are you confident things will turn around?

BW: "I'm definitely confident things will turn around. We have a great group of guys. Donovan McNabb is a great quarterback and the offensive line has been together for a long time. We'll get it going. We have to play with more urgency and execute the plays better. I think we're ready to go right now.

"Basically, I think we just haven't been consistent offensively. We haven't been able to get into any kind of rhythm because we've made too many mistakes. Once we correct that, we'll have more success."

Q. How did you enjoy the bye weekend? Did you watch games?

BW: "I watched a little bit of football. I was busy buying a house and that took a lot of my time. It was a pretty exciting time for me. I was occupied pretty much the whole weekend."

[Nisha04]

Hello all,

I'm new to this board, but I just wanted to compliment all of you on this site. I've spent my entire work day reading the various posts and have enjoy it all.

FYI-- There is an interesting article about Brian Westbrook in today's (1/26/04) Philadelphia Daily News about the obstacles Brian has overcome throughout his career.

www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/10738431.htm

Thanks,
Nisha

[EagleGene]

Nisha04 said:

Hello all,

I'm new to this board, but I just wanted to compliment all of you on this site. I've spent my entire work day reading the various posts and have enjoy it all.

FYI-- There is an interesting article about Brian Westbrook in today's (1/26/04) Philadelphia Daily News about the obstacles Brian has overcome throughout his career.

www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/10738431.htm

Thanks,
Nisha

THANK YOU! We all hope you come back and visit and or post often............